Chapter Sixteen
Desmond
Alone. In a bed not my own. Kane’s scent embedded in the sheets.
As much as I yearned to have the omega back in bed with me, to bury my cock deep within him, I was glad to wake up by myself.
Shame twisted in my stomach and through my chest. I’d arrived at his place so emotionally wrecked that I couldn’t shift back into my human form.
I’d thought letting my wolf run would dispel all my anger.
All my frustration with Conn Adan for having more people at his private memorial service than my mother had at her public one.
For hurting so many people when he was alive.
For never acknowledging he was my father.
Even though he had my graduation picture that he used as a bookmark—I’d found it in the bag of his belongings that the coroner had given to me.
And all the staff at the prison had referred to me as his son.
It proved too much. Nothing my grandparents said—as they grieved in their own way—helped.
Neither did a bottle of whiskey. So, I’d shifted, hoping to get a break from the onslaught of sorrow, the grief for the father I never had and the mother I still missed.
It didn’t work. Instead, I’d sat in the park and howled at the moon until the police arrived, telling me to move on or I would be arrested.
Instinct had brought me to Kane’s place.
In my human form, I’d tried to avoid him, not wanting to burden him with my problems. Conn had already made his way into our relationship with the early warnings about me he’d received, and the interrogation from his father at Christmas.
I wanted to get a grip on it all before I talked to him again.
My wolf decided otherwise, leading me to his place in the middle of the night. And Kane had brought me in, petted me until I was able to shift back. Then he’d washed me and let me fuck him, my mind filling with nothing but an insatiable hunger for the omega.
In the morning, I was left with remorse from it all. Guilt hung over my head for using him in such a way.
There was a knock before Kane opened the door. His own door. Why had I made him feel like he had to knock?
“I made breakfast and there’s coffee ready.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “Or I have a bottle of Gatorade if that’s all you can stomach right now.”
“Thank you. I’ll be out in a minute.” I sighed, frustrated with myself. What kind of alpha was I, being such an emotional wreck that an omega had to take care of me?
With a door to the bathroom from the bedroom as well as the main part of the apartment, I went there to relieve myself then dressed in the clothes Kane had left out for me. With my head down, I headed out to greet him.
“Morning.” I couldn’t meet his eyes, sure he was ready with an excuse to get me out of his apartment and his life. “Sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have come here and bothered you.”
He walked up to me and pushed my shoulder. “What do you mean by that? I’ve been waiting to hear from you for days, and you’re telling me you regret seeing me?”
I gulped, the shame too much. “I regret you seeing me like that. This is my pain to deal with, not yours.”
Placing his palms on my chest, he pushed me against the fridge door and stared up at me. “Did you not hear what I said to you last night?”
I tried to look away, but he clasped my chin. “It’s all a bit fuzzy.”
He pressed his body to mine and held my face in his hands. “Well, since you’ve had an emotional few days, I’ll excuse you not paying attention to me. But this is important, and you need to listen now.”
I nodded, my heart pounding so hard, I could hear it.
“You asked me last night about fated mates.”
I sucked in a breath, unsure where the conversation was headed. I didn’t remember much from the night before, had no idea what I’d said to him.
“And I told you I didn’t believe in them until I met you. I believe you’re my fated mate, Desmond.”
“What?” I whispered. “Why?” My mind spun as I tried to comprehend his words.
He shook his head, chuckling as he moved his hands down to my chest. “Because I never expected to feel this way about anyone. Ever. Not this quickly. I just can’t get you out of my mind, Desmond Banks. On top of that, my reindeer is rather fond of you, has been since you petted me.”
I blinked hard. “Are you sure? You’re okay with it being me?” I had no idea what he saw in me, since I barely knew who I was. I’d spent the last decade trying to prove who I wasn’t.
“Of course.” He reached around and squeezed my ass.
“I’m glad you’re not one of those alpha-holes who think I should be honored when they ogle me.
I’m especially glad that you are not emotionally constipated, that you’re capable of more than just being horny or angry.
And, last night, I was glad you came to me.
Whether it was you or your wolf who brought you here, that meant a lot. ”
I rested my hands on his waist. “I’m far from perfect. And my family… Well, that’s pretty messed up.”
“This is stuff I already knew before I called you after your Christmas party and invited you to my parents for Christmas.” He lifted his hand to cup my cheek.
“I’m not perfect, either. I’m kind of judgy with those who don’t understand why we help community members in need.
Plus, I get anxiety in crowds. That’s why I needed to leave.
I was so overwhelmed by all the people. Even if most of them were super nice to me. ”
Holding onto his wrist, I kissed his palm. “You’re perfect to me.” Then I moved his hand down and kissed his lips. Coffee and maple flavored. So sweet, I yearned to taste all of him.
“Take me,” he whispered as I brushed my lips along his neck with so much more of his body to explore.
“Right here. We’re meant to be together.
” He pulled off his T-shirt then shimmied out of his lounge pants, wearing nothing underneath.
Crooking his finger, he motioned me closer. “Come on now. Fuck me, alpha.”
With a growl, I lifted him onto the kitchen island. As I removed my pants, he spread his legs, the smell of his need filling my senses. Lining the tip of my cock to his already slick hole, I plunged deep inside.
As I rocked in and out of him, I let go of all the emotional armor I’d been holding onto for most of my life.
Kane already knew me, had seen through my shield from the beginning.
He knew the me I’d tried to hide from everyone, including myself.
And he still believed we were fated to be together.
Watching him as I tried to usher him toward his release, I felt that same connection.
A bottomless devotion that could no longer be contained.
I was his, and I wanted to make him mine.